XM Radio is finally here!

[duderiffic]

On an interesting note, XM released service around November 15, 2001.  The tuner units were out slightly before that, but the no drilling glass-mount antennas just came out this week.

Well guys (and girls) you would absolutley laugh your ass off if you saw these antennas.  In all the pictures, (not on cars) they look like they are about as wide as a pencil and maybe 5" - 6" high with a base much like the "fuba" on a late model 7 series bimmer.

We finally got our antennas in stock at the shop I work at on Friday, and it is absolutley absurd!  The antennas are huge!! The contact area on your glass is the size of a large computer mouse, and the antenna is over an inch thick and probably about 10" high, and it is jet black.  The biggest eyesore I've ever seen.  So much for shaving your antenna and getting XM!

Anyone else care to share their thoughts on XM?  I think it's a cool service, but after seeing those antennas I'm going to have to wait for a second generation antenna!

Jeff
1998 240SX SE

[sspikey]

got any pictures. and is XM radio that whole satellite based radio system. ?

[Takumi]

The idea of XM radio sounds interesting. People who listen to specifically one genre or the other would have great use for it. For example, a hip-hop fan wouldn't have to wait for hours and hours, song after song, for them to play something pertaining to rap or hip-hop on an R&B/hip-hop station. Instead, they can just tune into an ALL hip-hop station. Same goes for the people who like R&B, they don't have to listen to hours and hours of rap music just to wait for the station to play something they like.

Personally, I rarely listen to the radio, I hear enough mainstream stuff on MTV anyway. I have MP3's and I buy CD's. I only use the radio in my car if I forgot to bring a CD with me and that only happens once in a while. Their commercials are interesting though. It's decent marketing to push the product/service. I'm not really sold on the idea though.

[S13Grl]

I like burning my own CDs. I don't like other people choosing what songs I listen to <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>. But that's just me...

[duderiffic]

I've listened to XM and it has excellent programming. &nbsp;But the whole huge ass antenna thing is just a huge turn off! &nbsp;But I do believe that both Pioneer and /////ALPINE will be releasing their own antennas. &nbsp;The ones I'm referring to are Terk (first to market with glass mount) &nbsp;they are retailing for $89.95.

In response to XM being satellite based, it is entirely air based. &nbsp;But XM has ( or is supposed to ) stratigically place ground repeaters in crowded urban areas to boost reception. &nbsp;My Boss just threw that huge antenna on his full-size Chevy, so I'll know tomorrow how he said it performs. &nbsp;We've had it in on demo at the store since mid November, but how it works in a car is totally different. &nbsp;All reviews said reception was a complete success getting nearly perfect reviews in the few mags I've seen covering XM

Jeff

[sspikey]

its like internet audio im guessing. most stuff i listen to is house,acid jazz,techno in general. so something like that would be great because not many stations play that kind of music.

[transient]

I've thought about getting it. I'd love to have it, but in the end, I just can't justify the cost.

[duderiffic]

Not really. &nbsp;I mean there's cool stuff on there. &nbsp;But not really special interest music. &nbsp;It's maybe aimed at mainstream odd music, but not even that so much. &nbsp;They have no Punk/Ska stations. &nbsp;Although I really don't like too many other types of music other than jazz. &nbsp;Which they cover pretty well. &nbsp;Selection of programming is allright. &nbsp;But content of those selections is supposed to be awesome!! &nbsp;If you like anything thats popular (like that scream 'n' yell then play slow shit) you'll be in love with XM. &nbsp;If you love rap n' R&amp;B you'll score too. &nbsp;But hopefully XM will expand programming. &nbsp;The sound quality of XM is awesome too!!

Jeff

[Takumi]

I'll probably get it on my next car or for the #### of it if they add Chinese pop, Korean pop, Japanese pop, anime station, and a trance station.

[twofortysx]

I think XM is a great idea and would get it, however:

I have an Alpine XM ready stereo. &nbsp;The unit cost me about $500 after tax/install all of that shit when it first came out. &nbsp;Now, Alipine wants $285 + install for the XM adapter, then $60+ for one of their ghetto ass looking antennae.. &nbsp;If the #### service worked on my stereo out of the box I would already have it, but I don't want to put that #### antenna on my car.

[duderiffic]

Which Alpine radio do you have? &nbsp;I have the top of the line from 2000 and it doesn't do XM.

Jeff

Hmm... I feel your fustration guys. &nbsp;I recently ditched my 1996ish Alpine 35x4 receiver (Tape w/ CD changer controls) AND free'd my glovebox from the 6-CD Ai-Net changer.. all so that I can install my custom MP3 setup.

I no longer have any receiver, just amplifiers and speakers. &nbsp;I use something similar to the iPod, but its not limited to just 5gb. &nbsp;I use something called a PJB, which I upgraded to a 40gb hard drive.

Its nice. &nbsp;And now I have 40gb of un-interrupted music at the touch of a backlit-LCD button anywhere I go. &nbsp;AM/FM Radio? &nbsp;Tape? &nbsp;CD? &nbsp;Mp3 CDs? &nbsp;Bah.. thats old-school! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

- Mike

[twofortysx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from duderiffic on 5<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>2 pm on Jan. 20, 2002
Which Alpine radio do you have? I have the top of the line from 2000 and it doesn't do XM.

Jeff
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The CDA 7875

[gh6o6]

radio = evil
5 min of music, 30 min of commercials and people talking

[duderiffic]

Hey man,
&nbsp; &nbsp; Do you want to get rid of those ugly blue buttons and get a 7876? &nbsp;It's time to upgrade to 2002 for my beeatch, and she has a 7876. &nbsp;I'll sell it cheap... whatever that may be. &nbsp;It's pretty much the same as yours except it's green, has the polished knob and dual / illumination. &nbsp;Or if you want sell you my $1000 CDA-7969 Fantom Face for $500. &nbsp;It's super nice!! But pre-amp only. &nbsp;I want the new $800 7996 ( or 98 I don't remember) that is coming out in 2002. &nbsp;It's going to be cool.

Jeff

[rabbit23]

old_s13, is your mp3 player portable? or do you have to take a laptop to the car to install more music?

[JeffNJ]

Can you get an add-on XM receiver that puts audio out via RCA cables? &nbsp;I have no radio in my car at all. &nbsp;There's a full-DIN graphic EQ by Sony being fed signal by a Nomad Jukebox. &nbsp;So, I'm not sure I could put XM anyplace. &nbsp;Oh well, when I get sick of every song I own, I guess I'll swap out the HD. &nbsp;Heh, heh. &nbsp;=)

(In the interest of honesty, I'm going to point out that this post is a big lie. &nbsp;But, &lt;i&gt;it won't be&lt;/i&gt; by the end of the week. &nbsp;I have everything ready, and have already started installation. &nbsp;I hope to finish by this coming weekend, but we'll see.)

Its a tiny unit, about 5&quot; wide and 3&quot; tall, .75&quot; thick.. installation would be completely custom and you'de have to be fairly good with electrical to do what I did to install it. &nbsp;Nothing out of the ordinary, I just hard-wired the cigarette power adapter and spliced the line-out to go into several amps. &nbsp;You also have to make sure your amps are crossed-over properly.. which also requires some audio knowledge.

Like I said, its not a simple setup for everyone.. but its simple for me. &nbsp;When I leave the car, I take the unit with me. &nbsp;I can copy new songs via USB interface off of my PC. &nbsp;The only downside is that USB is slower than Firewire, which I wish it had.

- Mike




</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from rabbit23 on 11:52 pm on Jan. 20, 2002
old_s13, is your mp3 player portable? or do you have to take a laptop to the car to install more music?
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